Effect of walnut consumption on blood lipids and other cardiovascular risk factors: a meta-analysis and systemic review.

High consumption of diets rich in walnut may confer substantial protection against cardiovascular disease and mortality.

Walnut is a rich source of polyunsaturated fatty acids. This research work was carried out to determine the effects of walnut consumption on cardiovascular disease risk factors. Researchers analyzed data obtained from 13 published literatures on the subject.

Researchers observed a lower incidence of cardiovascular diseases in frequent consumers of walnuts than in rare or non-consumers of this nut. Low serum concentrations of total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (indicators of cardiovascular health) and biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress were found in subjects who regularly consumed large amounts of walnuts. However, diets rich in walnuts were found to have no significant effect on body weight and plasma levels of triglycerides and high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. The findings of this meta-analysis show that high walnut intake is associated with a favorable and improved cardiovascular disease risk factors.